Are You Up-to-Date on Your Vaccines?

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Probably not. Adults needs vaccines, too, but the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) says that most of us are vulnerable because we're skipping many recommended shots. (These include boosters for vaccines you first received during childhood.) For example, only about half of Americans age 19-64 are up-to-date on vaccines for tetanus, diptheria and pertussis (whooping cough).

A big problem is that there seems to be a breakdown in communication. One NFID survey found that almost 90 percent of primary care doctors claim to discuss vaccines with their patients—but another survey found that almost half of patients said their doctor never discussed vaccines with them.

The answer? Be your own advocate, and get the conversation started. Go to adultvaccination.org to educate yourself, then make sure you raise the subject at your next checkup.